Thank you to all of the students who submitted to ERASE Racism's 2022 Raise Your Voice Essay Contest and to SCOPE for their generous sponsorship. We're excited to share the winning essays with you and hope you'll join us wishing a special congratulations to the winners, four high school seniors from Glen Cove High School, Malverne Senior High School, and Lynbrook High School.
Asa Freeman – Lynbrook High School in Lynbrook, NY
Growing up as a young black man in a predominantly white community, I certainly believe that injustice exists in the world, but I also believe that without an actionable plan to mitigate that injustice, the oppressed is just as much to blame as the oppressor...
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Kayla George – Malverne Senior High School in Malverne,
NY
Inequity has existed for centuries in American society or people of various backgrounds. People have been discriminated against due to their race, skin, or ethnicity. Despite the inability to choose these aspects, people have faced hatred and prejudice from others, stripping them of opportunities and fundamental rights that everyone should have. One notable example of unfair discrimination is policies demonstrating prejudice against kinky and coiled hair within schools. The hate exuded by the bias against coarse-textured hair is something that should be acknowledged, taught, and combatted in schools...
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Kareena Sukhnanan – Malverne Senior High School in Malverne, NY
I pull myself back to my community’s history–de facto segregation floats around as a haunted ghost wandering the streets of Long Island with a singular motive. Day in and day out, surrounding communities lack diversity and representation...
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Sofia Garcia – Glen Cove High School in Glen Cove, NY
What is history if it is not the whole story?
If I told you to tell me the story of your life, would you tell me the whole story? Would you throw in some white lies and some new details? Would the rotten parts be glossed over? Would you make it seem better than it really is?...
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